Measuring device



H. M. JONES v MEASURING DEVICE v Filed July 16, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ifive-721 07,"

Patented Nov. 2@, i923.

HURRY M. JONES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MEASURING DEVICE.

Application filed July 16,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Honny M. JONES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicage, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Measuring Devices, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in measuring devices and moreespecially to a device for measuring the amount and rate of oxygenconsumption by a human being in the breathing process. It is especiallydesigned for use in the practice of medicine for the purpose ofdiagnosis and the detection of the presence of disease or otherpathological conditions; it has been found that .the amount and rate ofoxygen consumption in the lungs is an indication of the rate ofmetabolism. It is obvious, also, that the device can be used with thenormal individual, it, for any reason, it is desired to ascertaTn therate and amount of oxygen consumption.

Although the machine, as stated, is especially designed for use in thepractice of medicine for the purposes set forth it is obvious that,without detracting from the spirit of this invention, it may be used forother purposes with the necessary modifications. In other words, thedevice is adapted for use, in general, in any cases where for anyreason, it is desired to measure or ascertain the amount of oxygenabsorbed, used or taken up by any subject,-livin or dead.

The foregoing features an others of my invention will appear more fullyas 1 proceed with my specification.

A device embodying the features of my invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings in which, Figure l is a view in side elevation ofthe device. Fig. 2 is. a top plan View. Fig. 3 is a plan view of theunderside of the top or cover of the charcoal container. Fig. 4 is a topplan view of the device with the cover removed. Fig. 5 is a plan view ofthe face of the pressure gage used in connection with the device. Fig. 6is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the upper part of thedevice taken as indicated by the line 6 of Fig. 9.. Fig. 7 is atransverse vertical sectional view of the up per part of the devicetaken as indicated by the line 7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a verticalsectional view taken as indicated by .the line 8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is alongitudinal vertical sectional vlew of the lower part of the char-1920. Serial No. 396,780.

sectional view taken or indicated by the line 12 of Fig. 11.

shown in said drawings A indicates in general a charcoal container; B, apressure measuring tank; C, a tank containing comgressed oxygen; D, arubber breathing bag; a breathing tube; F, a mouthpiece; and G, apressure gage. The container A is cylindrical in form and nearly filledwith charcoal covered with a solution of sodium hydroxide (indicated by15) for a purpose to be explained hereinafter. The breathing tube E isfastened to an elbow pipe leadmg into one side of the top of thecharcoal container A and provided with a three way valve 26 and anoutlet port 27. The top of the charcoal container A, on the sideopposite the pipe 25, is also provided with a U- shaped pipe 28 to whichis attached the rubber breathing bag D. The charcoal container A isdivided into two compartments 30 and 31 respectively by means of a gastight partition 32 extending from the top of the container downwardly toa. point about one inch from the bottom. The openingthrough the pipe 25leading from the breathing tube E enters the compartment 30,

and the pipe 28 leading from the breathing bag D enters the compartment31. The partition 32 is provided at the top with a small circular port34: covered by a light swinging vane, or flutter valve 35 of anysuitable construction and design to permit the passage of air from thecompartment 31 to the compartment 30 through the port 34 but not in areverse direction. protection is covered by a suitable screen or grating36. As shown in Fig. 6 the charcoal 15 in the container A is not filledentirely to the top but a space of about one inch is left in order topermit the free passage of gas from the top of compartment 31 throughthe port 34 into the compartment 30. A suitable retaining screw 39 isprovided for fastening down the cover or to 4.0 on the charcoalcontainer, and a suitab e gasket or washer 40 is provided in order tomake the parts gas tight. It is to be under- The valve 35 for containe Aat its center is the pressure measuring tank B which is a hollowcylinder having a port 50 leading from its upper end terminating in thepipe 51 leading up through the charcoal container A with its upper endcurved downwardly as indicated by 52 and terminating in the upper partof the compartment 31 above the surface of the charcoal.

Communication from the pressure tank B to the port 50 is controlled by avalve 55.

Near the lower end of the pressure tank B is joined in any suitablemanner a tank C containing compressed oxygen with a valve 60 arranged topermit the admission of gas from the tank C into the pressure tank Bthrough the inlet port 61. N o invention is involved in the particularconstruction of the oxygen tank or the manner of attaching it to thepressure tank B since devices of this sort are old in the art.

The machine is supported by a suitable rod or standard mounted in thelower end of the pressure tank B and held upright by the tripod 71.

IL will be noted, that the machine is so constructed that the containerA ma be separated from the pressure tank I? by loosening the two partsat the threaded joint provided, and likewise the standard 70 may beunscrewed from the pressure tank B. A suitable collar and clampingscrews 76 of any desired constructionare provided for holding the oxygentank C in place. These parts also may readily be loosened permitting theremoval of the oxygen tank. It will thus be seen that the machine mayreadily be knocked down for the purpose of packing or carrying.

The pressure gage G has an opening leading into the pressure tank B andis adapted to give an indication of the pressure of gas therein. It maybe of any suitable form or construction. The age G is provided with anindicating han 81. and its face 80 has upon it a series of markings 82.82, 82", etc. By the trial and error method or in any other suitable waythe gage is so adjusted and the markings are so placed that at a giventemperature the recording hand 81 will coincide with one of the markswhen the pressure tank B contains such a quantity of oxygen that whenthe valve 55 is opened there will escape from the tank B into thecharcoal container A through the pipe 52 a predetermined volume ofoxygen at such temperature. Likewise the other marks 82, 82', etc. areeach located with respect to a certain given temperature. For example,the mark 82 is so located that at a temperature of 70 Fahrenheit, whenthe hand 81 stands at the mark 82 and the valve 60 is shut off and thevalve 55 opened there will escape through the pipe 52 one liter ofoxygen at such temperature of 70. Likewise, if the temperature is 65 and0xygen is admitted into the pressure tank B until the hand 81 stands at82 and the valve 60 is then closed and the valve 55 opened there willescape through the pipe 52 exactly one liter of oxygen at suchtemperature of 65. In the same manner. for example, the mark 82 is solocated that if the apparatus is to be used in a room at a temperatureof 75 Fahrenheit, oxygen must be admitted into the pressure tank B untilthe hand 81 stands at 82 in order that after the valve 60 is closed andthe valve 55 opened, exactly one liter of oxygen will escape into thecompartment 31 through the pipe 52. It will be seen, therefore, that, ythis construction, at any known temperature. there may ver easily beadmitted into the pressure tank B a sulficient quantity of oxygen bymeans of the valve 60, so that after the valve 60 is closed, and thevalve 55 opened, there will escape into the compartment 31 through thepipe 52 a quantity of oxygen of predetermined volume; for example, oneliter.

In the operation of the device, the patient or subject takes themouthpiece F into his mouth, and the nostrils are closed so that all gasinhaled and exhaled passes through the breathing tube E. The three wayvalve 26 is then turned so that communication into the compartment 30 iscut off and outlet from the tube E is afiorded through the valve 26 andoutlet port 27. When the device is so set the patient may breathenormally for a short time in order to become accustomed to the deviceand in order to properly place the mouthpiece F so that there will be noleakage. During such time the breathing bag D is collapsed. As thispreliminary breathing is going on, the temperature of the room is noted,the valve 55 is closed, and the valve 60 is opened until the hand 81 onthe gage G coincides with the proper mark 82, 82, or 82", etc..corresponding to the room temperature. noted. The valve 60 is thenclosed. In theevent that too much gas is allowed to flow into thepressure tank B so that the hand 81 goes beyond the mark a small amountmay be allowed to escape by means of loosening the screws 76 so that aslight amount of oxygen may leak outuntil the amount 81 reaches thecorrect mark. When the hand is at the correct mark the screw 76 must betight, and the valve 60 and 55 tightly closed so that the hand willstand at this mark. When the device is so set the breathing of theatient is noted and immediately at the en of an inspiration the valve 26is turned to the poears ot sition shown in Fig. 6. This marks thestarting point of the test. It will be noted that at this starting pointthe patient has his lungs full of ordinary gases as inhaled from theroom, and the bag D is collapsed. The next expiration of the patientwill pass into the charcoal container A downwardly through thecompartment 30 under the partition 32 upwardly through the compartment31. During the assage of the gases from the lungs this through thecharcoal and sodium hydroxide in the charcoal container, some-of thecarbon dioxide gas is taken up or absorbed by the charcoal and sodium'hydroxide solution in accordance with the well known mechanical andchemical properties of these substances. It is the function of thecharcoal and the sodium hydroxide solution to thus remove the carbondioxide from the gases exhaled b the patient. At this point it may benote that although I have shown and describedccharcoal and a sodiumhydroxide solution for this purpose, it is obvious that any otherchemicals, substances, or apparatus that will so remove the carbondioxide gas from the gases passing through, might be used in the device,without detracting from the spirit of this invention. The carbon dioxidethus removed from the gases exhaled by the patient was formed in thelungs of the patient from the oxygen in the gases originally breathedin. The remaining gases from the expiration will pass through the pipe28 into the breathing bag D expanding it to a certain extent. At thispoint the valve is opened allowing the escape through the pipe 52 of apredetermined quantity of oxygen, as explained before. For example, oneliter of oxygen is thus allowed to escape into the compartment 31 at thetop and through the pipe 28 and into the breathing bag D expanding itstill more. Tll'lS'lTllXBS with the gases just exhaled by the patientand is designed to provide oxygen in such gases to replace that whichwas removed by the. removal of carbon dioxide as explained before. Atthe next inspiration by the patient the gases previously exhaled withthe new oxygen mixed therewith is again drawn into the lungs, passinghowever from the breathing bag D through the port 34 instead of downthrough the charcoal, since the former is the easier and more directpassage. Some more of the oxygen is consumed in the lungs, or taken upby the body, in accordance with well known physiological reactions toform carbon dioxide which is exhaled at the next expiration and partlyabsorbed by the passage of the gases through the charcoal as explainedbefore; the remaining gases again entering the breathing bag D. Thebreath ing process is thus continued, some of the carbon dioxide formedin the lungs being taken up by the charcoal and sodium hydroxidesolution at each expiration, until the definite quantity of oxygenadmitted from the pressuretank B has been entirely consumed. Ihis pointmay beexactly noted, and will occur when the breathing bag is againentirely collapsed immediately at the end of an inspiration. It will berecalled that at the commencement of the test the bag D was entirely socollapsed. In other words, the operation of the device in this mannerwill show that the patient consumed an exact quantity of oxygen, forexample one 1iter,.during the time elapsed between the starting pointnoted at the end of the inspiration when the valve 26 was turned, andthe time noted at the end of another inspiration when the bag D hadagain collapsed.

What I claim as new and by Letters Patent is:

1. In adevice of the character described, an extensible breathing bagadapted to retain gases exhaled into it and pern'iit theirreinspiration, means for removing the our bon dioxide gas from suchgases, and means for introducing into such gases a predeterminedquantity of oxygen, such means comprising an oxygen measuring tankconnected to the breathing bag, and an oxygen supply tank connected tothe oxygen measuring tank. v

2. In a device of the character described, an extensible breathing bagadapted to re tain gases exhaled into it and permit their reins iration,means for removing the carbon ioxide gas from such gases, and means forintroducing into such gases a predetermined quantity of oxygen, suchmeans comprising an oxygen measuring tank, with a pressure gauge,connected to the breathing bag, and an'oxygen supply tank connected tothe oxygen measuring tank.

3. In a device of the character described, an extensible breathing bagadapted to retain gases exhaled into it and permit their reinspiration,means for removing the carbon dioxide gas from such gases, and means forintroducing into such gases a predetermined quantity of oxygen, suchmeans comprising an oxygen measuring tank connected to the breathingbag, a valve controlling the connection between the oxygen measuringtank and the breathing tank, and

desire to secure an oxygen supply tank connected to the oxygen measuringtank.

4:. In a device of the character described, an extensible breathing bagadapted to retain gases exhaled into it and permit their reinspiration,means for removing the carbon dioxide gas from such gases, and means forintroducing into such gases a predetermined quantity of oxygen, suchmeans comprising an oxygen measuring tank connected to the breathingtank, a manually operated valve controlling the connection between theoxygen measuring tank and the therefrom of such predetermined breathingbag, and an oxygen supply tank connected to the oxygen measurin tank.

5. In a device of the character escribed, an extensible breathing bagadapted to retain gases exhaled into it and permit their reinspiration,means for removing the carbon dioxide gas from such gases, and means forintroducing into such gases a predetermined quantity of oxygen, suchmeans comprising an oxygen measuring tank, with a pressure gauge,connected to the breathing bag, a valve controlling the connectionbetween the oxygen measuring tank and the breathing tank, and an oxygensupply tank connected to the oxy on measuring tank.

6. In a device of t 10 character described, an extensible breathing bagadapted to retain gases exhaled into it and rmit their reinspiration,means for removing the carbon dioxide gas from such gases, and means forintroducing into such gases a 'predetermined quantity of oxygen, suchmeans comprising an oxygen measuring tank, with a pressure gauge,connected to the breathing tank, amanua'lly operated valve controllingthe connection between the oxygen measuring tank and the breathing bag,and an oxygen supply tank connected to the oxygen measuring tank.

7. In a device of the character described, an extensible breathing bagadapted to retain gases exhaled into it and permit their reinspiration,means for removing the carbon dioxide gas from such gases, and means forintroducing into such gases a predetermined quantity of oxygen, suchmeans comprising an oxygen measuring tank connected to the breathingbag, and an oxygen supply tank connected to the oxygen measuring tank,such oxygen measuring tank being provided with a pressure gauge adjustedto indicate the pressure of oxygen required therein in order to permitthe flow uantity of oxygen at'atmospheric pressure mto the ins ancebreathing bag, and a valve controlling the connection between the oxygenmeasuring tank and the breathing bag.

8. In a. device of the character described,

an extensible breathing bag adapted to retain gases exhaled into it andpermit their reinspiration, means for removing the carbon dioxide gasfrom such gases, and means for introducing into such gases a predetermined quantity of oxygen, such means comprising an oxygen measuringtank connected to the breathing bag, and an oxygen supply tank connectedto the oxygen measuring tank, such oxygen measuring tank being providedwith a pressure gauge adjusted to indicate the pressure of oxygenrequired therein at a given temperature in order to permit the flowtherefrom of Such predetermined quantity of oxygen at atmosphericpressure into the breathing bag, and a valve controlling the connectionbetween the oxygen measuring tank and the breathing bag.

9. In a device of the character described, astandard, an oxygenmeasuring tank detachably secured to the standard, and a carbon dioxideremover detachably secured to the oxygen measuring tank.

10. In a device of the character described, a. standard, an oxygenmeasuring tank detachably secured to the standard, a carbon dioxideremover detachably secured to the oxygen measurin tank, and an oxygensup ply tank detacha ly secured to the oxygen measuring tank.

11. In a device of the character described, a standard, an oxygenmeasuring tank detachably secured to the standard, a carbon dioxideremover detachably connected to the oxy en measuring tank, and a valvecontrol ing connection between the carbon dioxide remover and the oxygenmeasuring tank.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 12th da of Jul1920.

HI SRRY JONES.

